Saturday, March 4, 2017

MINISTER STEVENS

The
Allegations In Mr. Blount's Report Against the Official Conduct of Captain
Wiltse and Himself Are Grossly Untrue, He Says—The Queen and the Lottery Ring
Openly Defied the Legislature.

AUGUSTA, Me., Dec. 21.— Ex-Minister Stevens
last night made the following reply to President Cleveland's message and his
criticisms of Mr. Stevens' official conduct:

"Human government in its best form
sometimes fails to secure all the just objects for which it has been created.
No one who has studied the doings of the remarkable body of men who formulated
the constitution of the United States has failed to observe what care and
effort were exercised to create an executive power which would not be abused
for purposes of usurpation and tyranny. In creating the office of president it
was impossible to provide against all contingencies of usurpation by that
officer. The provision for impeachment was the best safeguard that the framers
of the constitution could constitute. The great reluctance of the conservative
men of the country to remove the chief executive for abuse of power seems to
have encouraged President Cleveland to resort to the extraordinary measure of
overturning the provisional government of Hawaii, while as much as possible
concealing his attention from the American congress.

"There is nothing in American history
more shameful in its scope of injustice and tyranny than the attempt of
President Cleveland and Secretary Gresham to crush out liberty and American
interests in Hawaii by the threat to restore the extinct Hawaiian monarchy by
force of arms or by diplomatic chicanery and pressure, more infamous, if
possible, than the use of ball and bayonet. The allegations in Blount's report
against the official conduct of Captain Wiltse and myself are grossly untrue,
are in manifest antagonism to all the reasonable probabilities and logic of the
situation in Honolulu in January last.

"President Cleveland's grossly untrue
and shamefully unjust allegation against myself and the naval commander rests
entirely on the statements of the four notoriously corrupt ministers of the
fallen queen, of Wilson, the Tahitian half-white immoral favorite, and other
thoroughly discredited testimony.

"Persons of the highest character for
intelligence and integrity, who know and witnessed the events when the monarchy
fell, have contradicted expressly this secretly collected testimony of Commissioner
Blount.

"I only repeat here what has been amply
verified again and again that neither by force, nor threat of force, or by any
action of mine was the fall of the monarchy precipitated.

"If President Cleveland sees fit to
make a point against my official conduct that months before the events of last
January I had advocated annexation, he deliberately and purposely conceals that
what I said in my dispatch in November, 1892, was a confidential statement to
the department of the true condition of affairs in Hawaii.

The queen, her immoral favorite, Wilson, and
the lottery ring, openly defied the legislature and the property holders of the
islands. Only the remarkable self-possession of the respectable and responsible
men of the islands prevented an outbreak and the overthrow of the monarchy at
an earlier day.

"Captain Wiltse and myself on the
Boston arrived in the harbor of Honolulu in the forenoon of Jan. 14.

"I was completely taken by surprise at
what the queen, the palace associates and the lottery gang accomplished in 10
days.

"The surging, irresistible tide of the
revolution was then obvious to all persons not willfully blind.

"Without sleep for two days and nights
on the Boston, without stopping to change dress, with the English minister I
attempted to get access to the queen to try by friendly advice to arrest the
revolution.

"It was too late. The mobs of royal
retainers were already gathering to the palace to aid the queen to carry out
her plan of overturning the constitution.

"What took place at the palace that
afternoon of Jan. 14 ended the Hawaiian monarchy forever.

"I will not here repeat what I before
said to the American public as to the falsity of the charge that Queen
Liliuokalani was driven from her throne by American force, or by the threat of
American force, in any form or manner whatever.

"As to the landing of the Boston's
marines Jan. 16, I only did what had been done on a previous Hawaiian crisis by
Commander Woodward, on the request of Minister Merrill, acting under the
Cleveland-Bayard order, Aug. 1, 1889.

"At that time the United States
legation was near the royal palace, at a less distance than the Arlon hall, of
which Cleveland and Blount speak of as so commanding. Of the hall I had never
heard of until a lodging place was needed for the marines after they had
landed, a hall that I have never yet seen.

"By an accurate map just received from Honolulu,
it is obvious that this hall does not command the palace. The president's statement
that the three points at which our small naval force was placed were not
favorably chosen for the protection of American life and property, is radically
an error, as all know who are familiar with the map and the buildings of
Honolulu.

"The representations of the president
that the queen's Wilson had sufficient force in the limited area of the police
station to sustain the monarchy, is notoriously absurd to all honest persons
acquainted with the facts.

"If the queen had this force, why had
it not been entered while the outraged people were openly holding their great
mass-meeting and making their arrangements for the establishment of a new
government?

"Why did Wilson and his so-called force
wait until the outraged citizens gathered with their rifles and bottled them up
in the police station?

"Why did the queen's representatives
call at the United States legation on the 17th and ask the aid of the United
States force to support her?

"There never was a more preposterous
assumption than this assertion of the president that the queen on Jan. 17 had
ample force to sustain her and to enable her to carry on the government.

"This studiously maintained assumption
of the president is based on the testimony of the notoriously corrupt
representatives of the rings that surround Liliuokalani. That the Hawaiian
monarchy was overturned by the United States force was, and is, put forth for
the sole purpose of bringing discredit on the preceding administration, and on
the action of the foreign relation's committee of the United States senate in
favor of annexation. It remains to be seen if the American congress and
American people will approve the conspiracy to make war on the provisional
government at Hawaii, and use the military forces of the United States or the
diplomatic pressure of the United States for the restoration of a
semi-barbarous queen in want, on defiance of the best American opinions and
antecedents, and by an excessive use of executive power against an American
colony, more positive and more excusable than which George III and his
ministers sought to impose on the American colonies that formed the government
of the United States."

Direct
from Honolulu.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 21.—The steamship
Mariposa from Honolulu arrived today with advices to Dec. 14. She says the
cutter Corwin arrived there on the morning of Dec. 14, bringing dispatches to
Minister Willis. Their contents was [sic] withheld but there is a belief in
Honolulu that Mr. Willis is instructed to use every effort in his power short
of force to restore the queen to the throne. Affairs are all quiet though.

On Trial
For Kissing.

SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 21.—Ah Num, a wealthy
Chinaman, is on trial for kissing Mrs. Annie Billow. The defense is that Mrs.
Billow is addicted to morphine and is laboring under a delusion.

POST
GROVER CAPTURED.

It
Seemed Serious but it Turned Out Well.

(From
Our Special Correspondent In the Field.)

Nothing has occurred in military circles
since the disbanding of the Forty-fifth Separate company which was a greater
surprise than the occurrences of last evening at the headquarters of Grover
Post, No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic,
as indicated by the heading of this article. Last night was the regular meeting
of the post and besides it had been designated as the night for the annual
inspection. Past Commander Hendrick of McGrawville was to have been present as
inspector, but late in the afternoon was called away, or he would doubtless
have shared the fate of the other comrades.

Post meeting was called to order at the usual
hour and the sentinels on duty reported everything securely guarded. Just as
the business of the evening was concluded there was an alarm at the outpost and
Comrade Filler, who was on picket duty, thinking maybe a train was coming, got
out his white flag, but recovering himself he immediately challenged "who
comes there?" The answer was "a friend without the countersign."

The party proved to be a lady and, as she
was sent under guard immediately to headquarters, it was whispered along the
lines and through the camp, as it used to be in the army, "Boys, there's a
piece of calico in camp." The lady was recognized immediately as Mrs.
William R. Hill, president of the Woman's Relief Corps. Instead of begging for
mercy for herself as a prisoner she assumed an air of authority and notified
the commander that she had his entire force surrounded, every avenue of escape
cut off and she demanded the immediate and unconditional surrender of the
entire force.

She was not in favor of any Hawaiian policy
of delay, but gave notice that she proposed to annex the whole post. The
quartermaster, as he thought of
his splendid mules, hoped at first that he could hide them, but he saw at once
that their ears would stick out. One pair of lead mules he particularly wanted to
save, but they had to go same as the "Wheeler."

Comrade Phelps was seen to reach down into
the leg of his cavalry box in search of his old revolver, while Adjutant
Seacord groaned over the thought that his books, morning reports, and private dispatches
must all fall into the enemy's hands. Escape was impossible, but the commander
would not surrender until better satisfied of the strength of the enemy.
Accordingly a side door was thrown open and there stood the force—a whole corps
assaulting one post. The post surrendered.

The whole company was immediately marched
out into the diningroom and the prisoners ordered to sit down, noton the ground, but on chairs, a plate and cup—not
tin, as they had been used to, but white dishes—and then each was served coffee
and doughnuts—not hardtack.

In the midst of this excitement two old
veterans who had been away from camp foraging came in, and suspecting nothing
unusual, they also were captured and brought before the company and told that
they were prisoners and must give an account of themselves. Sager said it was a
"big dose," a "bitter pill." Kellogg said it was
"hard-ware" on a couple of innocent fellows who had only been out to
hear a lecture on the "Age we used to live in." They were immediately
silenced and furnished with rations: an immense doughnut was placed on one of
their plates when, presto! it disappeared.

Surgeon Filler, who sat near by [sic] turned pale,
thinking the comrade might have swallowed it whole, but it was too big for that
and as the comrade had nopockets in his
blouse, no one could see what had become of it. He was given another doughnut,
after which the former one was found under his plate firmly clamped to the
bottom with his forefinger.

After supper came singing the old camp songs—"Marching
Through Hoke Smith," "The Sword of Bunker Hill," "Tramp,
Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching," and "The Army Grey back."

Commander Strowbridge arose at this point
and said if there was any comrade present who had not had some unpleasant experience
along the line of army grey backs, he was to arise. No one arose, but some
fellow growled out in a low voice that he had heard of the things but they had
never troubled him.

"Johnny Came Marching Home Again,
Hurrah, Hurrah" and "America." This indeed was another
delightful gathering of the old vets and their friends which will be ever remembered as one of the
bright spots along the march of life—in in this last campaign of the "Boys
in Blue."All turned to see who the comrade was, and
his name—"Hunt"—gave him entirely away. Turning suddenly around Comrade
George W. Edgcomb (the fellow who started the grey back song) stood scratching
his back against the corner of the adjutant's desk, thinking he was not seen. The entertainment closed by singing the
"Woman's Relief Corps," "Johnny Came Marching Home Again,
Hurrah, Hurrah" and "America." This indeed was another
delightful gathering of the old vets and their friends which will be ever remembered as one of the
bright spots along the march of life—in in this last campaign of the "Boys
in Blue."

City
Band Officers.

At the annual meeting of the Cortland City
band held in their rooms last evening, the following officers were elected for
the ensuing year:

President—J. D. Clark.

Vice President—Lewis Holdridge.

Secretary and Treasurer—E. G. Blair.

Conductor—P. Conway.

Trustee—Martin Conway.

Property
Owners Notice.

At an adjourned meeting of the board of
trustees, held in the clerk's office Monday
evening, December 18, the following resolutions were passed:

Resolved, That property owners within the village limits be and are hereby required
to clean and remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks opposite their premises
before 8 o'clock A. M., and in default thereof that the same be cleared under
the direction of the street commissioner, and the expense of such labor be a
charge upon the owner of the lands opposite such walks. Also,

Resolved, That all persons are hereby forbidden to throw or deposit any ashes or
refuse in any of the streets or gutters of the village.

BREVITIES.

—To-day is the shortest day of the year.

—There are more than 500 cases of grip in
Dunkirk at present. Three deaths have already occurred and two more people are
said to be incurable.

—The public schools for the first time are
to-day all taking uniform examinations from questions arranged for the various
grades by Superintendent Coon.

—The phonograph is being used by a New York
physician in recording the sounds of diseases, particularly of the nose, throat
and chest. Much success is attending his efforts.

—There are 1,200 Cherokee Indians in North
Carolina, who own 74,000 acres of very fine land and have four government schools.
Their chief is Stillwell Sownooke and he cannot speak English.

—To-day the town is full of people and it
really seems like the Holiday season. The fine sleighing has brought all the
country people into town. The merchants say it really seems like a Holiday trade.

—Sheriff Hoxsie of Onondaga county was fined
$10 last Wednesday for contempt by County Judge Northrup. He failed to serve an
ejectment which would have put a 93-year-old woman out on the sidewalk in the
cold.

—Miss Austin's private school have been
rehearsing under the direction of Miss
Aletta Bridgeford and will this evening present a Christmas drama in G. A. R. hall.
A small admission of ten cents will be charged.

—The board of health of New York City hashad its inspectors make a canvass of the tenement house district during the
week, to ascertain the number out of employment. It is estimated that there are
78,960 unemployed in that city.

—Few persons know what is meant by a
"size" in the matter of coats, shoes, etc. A size in a coat is an
inch; a size in underwear is two inches; a size in a sock is one inch; in a
collar, one-half an inch; in shirts, one-half an inch; in shoes, one sixth of an
inch; trousers, one inch; gloves, one quarter of an inch; hats, one-eighth of
an inch.—Exchange.

All for
Popcorn.

Mr. W. C. Palmer, whose popcorn stand on the
corner of Main and Court-sts. has become so popular, has this afternoon placed
upon this corner a new building to be the home of his popping machine. It is
six by four feet in size inside, and tall enough for a man to stand upright in.
The windows are all arranged on the street car plan, to let down into pockets.
Two doors furnish means of entrance and exit. The coloring is quite
dainty—being of straw color and white on the outside and having a pale blue
ceiling. The builder of the new house was Mr. Harry Williams. Doubtless
the popcorn will taste unusually good coming from such a neat little place.